Basil to return soon

26 March 2015 05:34 pm

Former economic development minister and UPFA MP Basil Rajapaksa has said that he would return to Sri Lanka soon and would assist in the ongoing police investigation into allegations made against him.

A spokesman of Mr. Rajapaksa said today that a court order sent to Mr. Rajapaksa’s residence in Korathota, Gampaha had been accepted.  

Earlier, a tense situation had prevailed when the court order was sent to Mr. Rajapaksa’s Medamulana residence, which was unoccupied, as some protesters had objected to the pasting of the court order on the door.  

R.R.K. Ranawaka, director general of the Divi Neguma Department which came under the purview of the Economic Development Ministry, had revealed that the then minister, Rajapaksa had ordered him to release large sums of money for various programmes during the past few years.

The Police Financial Fraud Investigation Division is investigating the major expenses incurred by the department, including money spent on the Presidential Election, an allowance paid to Divi Neguma officers, renovation of houses and more than Rs.70 million spent on a Divi Neguma national convention headed by the former minister.

Subsequently, the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court had issued an order to record a statement from Mr. Rajapaksa following a report filed by the police.